Biden, Pelosi Gravely Violate Principle Taught by Pope When They Take Communion

While we cannot know what is truly in someone's heart, all too often political or other high-profile figures who profess to be members of the Catholic faith give rise to scandal when they publicly promote intrinsic evils such as abortion, euthanasia, the redefinition of marriage, and contraception--several of which have been championed by Vice President Biden and Rep. Pelosi throughout their political careers.

As Cardinal Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, taught in the 2007 'Aparecida Document,' the responsibility of legislators, heads of governments to not receive Holy Communion while engaged in "deeds or words against the commandments, particularly when abortion, euthanasia, and other grave crimes against life and family are encouraged" is a very serious one.

Both Mr. Biden and Mrs. Pelosi are in grave violation of this principle, as neither have so far publicly shown fidelity to the Church on these issues, and both have opposed the Church whenever her teachings conflicted with their anti-life and anti-family ideology.

All members of the Catholic Church are called to defend life and family, but this responsibility weighs most heavily on Catholics who hold public office.

Editor's Note: Father Shenan J. Boquet is president of Human Life International.